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Michael
Nowakowski
Living Category - Inducted
2004
Record Company Owner/Executive Producer/Bandleader/Accordionist/
Vocalist/Promoter/Composer
Michael Nowakowski of Buffalo, New York has been involved in the
Polka Music field for over 38 years. He has been successful in all
aspects of the industry.
 In
his 20 years as President and Executive Producer of the Sunshine
Label, Mike has managed all details of the recording industry. These
include not only the development and production of recordings for
the nationally-recognized label, but also the manufacturing,
artwork, printing, promotion and distribution of product for the
nearly 120 bands on the Sunshine label. Among this group are Polka
music's elite, including The Dynatones, Walter Ostanek, John Gora &
Gorale, Stas Golonka & his Chicago Masters, Toledo Polkamotion,
Prime Drive, Jerry Darlak & the Buffalo Touch, Steel City Brass,
Happy Richie's Polka Band, Wanda & Stephanie, Dave Gawronski,
Crusade, Bob Zielinski Orchestra, The Beat, Cityside, Bedrock Boys,
Imperials, Dennis Polisky's Maestro's Men, Steve Kaminski and many
others, including Nowakowski's own Sunshine Band. The Sunshine label
also became home to several specialty recordings, including the
ever-popular Polkas for Children series and several CDs and
cassettes produced for Christmas and other holidays.
Since its founding, Sunshine has been a major label in the Polka
music industry. Its promotional mailings reach over 350 radio
stations, promoters and music reviewers across the United States and
Canada. Many of the bands on the label have gone on to national
prominence with the help of Sunshine's promotion.
To Nowakowski's credit, the Sunshine label has had nine
Grammy-nominated recordings in the last six years. Nowakowski
himself received a nomination in 2002 for his accordion work on
Jerry Darlak & the Buffalo Touch band's album Let the Good Times
Roll and again in 2003 with their album Polkas in Black &
White.
Nowakowski has been involved with Polka music virtually his whole
life. At the age of 12 he formed his first Polka band, The
Varitones. In 1971, he joined the Modernaires and recorded and
toured with that group until it disbanded in 1976. At that time,
Nowakowski formed the Sunshine Band. The band recorded several
albums and played for over fifteen years throughout the United
States and Canada.
When professional careers forced members of the Sunshine Band to
change their priorities, Nowakowski landed a position with The
Buffalo Knewz for several years before joining Marion Lush's band
until Lush's untimely death. At that time, he joined the very
popular Dynatones and toured the United States with that group for
several years. Two years after leaving the Dynatones, Nowakowski
began playing with Jerry Darlak and the Buffalo Touch band, of which
he is still a member and continues to play across the United States.
He has proven that he is comfortable on either side of the
recording booth. In addition to several singles, he has recorded
full-length albums as an accordionist with: The Modernaires (2
recordings); the Sunshine Band (2); The Dynatones (5); The Knewz
(1); and Jerry Darlak & the Buffalo Touch (5). Nowakowski has also
been a featured pianist on several recordings.
As a promoter, Nowakowski was one of the originators of the
Can-Am Polka Days. Since his youth, he has promoted and chaired many
dances in the Buffalo area. Nowakowski has been involved with
numerous Polka organizations, and has served on the Board of
Directors of the Buffalo Polka Boosters. He is also a member of the
United States Polka Association and has been an elector of the
International Polka Association's Hall of Fame. He is a voting
member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
(NARAS) and is a voting member of the Producers and Engineer Wing at
NARAS.
Nowakowski's love for Polka music has created a career that many
can only dream of. For the past 15 years, his full-time employment
has been that of a Polka music producer and promoter. Involved in
Polka music on a daily basis, he is ever vigilant in his quest to
promote the music and the industry with new talent. |
